Shoeshine hose protector



Dec. 27, 1938. F. D. BROWN 2,141,510

SHOESHINE HOSE PROTECTOR j Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe shine hose protectors of that general type adapted to be applied to the hose and upper portion of the shoe by the boot black to prevent shoe polish reaching and soiling the hose.

Hitherto devices of this character have been inadequate for several reasons, among the foremost being that such devices are cumbersome, hot and are prone to become dislodged from place. With these disadvantages in mind the present invention provides a light, cool, protector which may be readily inserted between the hose and the shoe in such manner as to embrace the hose around the heel and ankle portion thereof at the upper edge of the shoe, the device having in addition to terminal downwardly extending anchoring tabs, on intermediate pair of short anchoring tabs adapted to be inserted between the hose and the stili counter portion of the shoe to positively clamp the back portion of the protector against dislodgement during the shoe shining operation.

With the above the other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the heel portion of a shoe showing a protector constructed in accordance with the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing one of the intermediate tabs for engaging the counter of the shoe.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the protector.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, It designates a blank of flexible material such as celluloid, paper or other suitable material, the blank being of suflicient length to embrace the heel and ankle portion of hose above the heel portion of a shoe I l. The upper edge l2 of the blank is curved downwardly and inwardly to shape the blank to the contour of the back of the foot and permit the front ends thereof to extend over the wearers ankle, while terminating short of the front or laced portion of the shoe.

The blank Ii] is provided at the ends with depending curved tabs l3 which are adapted to be inserted between the shoe in front of the counter l4, and the hose, these tabs being of suflicient length to extend well down along the arched underneath instep surface of the hose and anchor the protector against being dislodged in a rearward direction should the boot blacks brushes and polishing rag accidentally contact with the protector.

A pair of relatively short tabs I5 depend from the bottom edge It of the blank, these tabs being uniformly spaced from each other and from the terminal tabs l3. The short tabs are substantially pear-shaped and are adapted to be inserted between the stifi counter M of the shoe and the wearers hose so as to be held firmly clamped against the counter by the bony heel portion of the foot and positively anchor the rear-portion of the protector against accidental upper dislodgement should the boot blacks brushes or cloth accidentally contact the same forcibly.

If the device is made of celluloid or other relatively indestructible material it may be used continuously. However, if the protector is formed of stiff paper or other destructible material it may be discarded after a single use to promote economy and sanitary service.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A. shoe shine hose protector comprising a blank of flexible material adapted to embrace the rear portion of hose and extend over the ankle portion thereof above the heel portion of the shoe, terminal downwardly extending tabs on the blank adapted to be inserted between the hose and the instep portion of the shoe and extend well down along the sides of the instep portion of the shoe, and a pair of intermediate tabs depending from the bottom edge of the blank and adapted to be inserted between the heel portion of the shoe and hose at diametrically opposite points on the stiff counter of the shoe and be clamped by the Wearers foot against the counter to positively hold the blank against accidental dislodgement.

2. A shoe shine hose protector comprising a blank of flexible material having the upper edge curved downwardly and inwardly between the ends to shape the device to the rear portion of the wearers ankle, the blank being sufficient in length to extend over the wearers ankle bone and terminate short of the laced portion of a shoe, terminal downwardly extending tabs on the blank adapted to be inserted between the hose and the instep portion of the shoe and extend well down along the sides of the instep portion of the shoe, and a pair of intermediate tabs depending from the bottom edge of the blank and adapted to be inserted between the heel portion of the shoe and hose on diametrically opposite points of the stiff counter of the shoe and be clamped by the wearers foot against the counter to positively hold the blank against accidental dislodgement.

FRED D. BROWN. 

